Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Attendance Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
High‑school administrator proposes tightened attendance rules to address chronic absences
Summary
As a first reading, a high‑school administrator proposed ending semester 'clean‑slate' resets and adding stepped consequences (face‑to‑face intervention, after‑school detention, Saturday school) to raise overall attendance; board discussion framed the proposal around state accountability goals.
Mr. Kramer, a high‑school administrator, presented a proposed revision to the high‑school attendance policy as a first reading. He said the current semester reset allows families and students to 'game' the five‑day limited absence allowance and that the proposal aims to better target chronic absenteeism.
Key elements of the proposal include replacing the five‑day limited absence rule with a six‑day policy, triggering a face‑to‑face meeting on the seventh absence, after‑school detention at eight absences and Saturday school at 10 absences. Mr. Kramer said prosecutors are engaged only after consistent, unresolved unexcused absences and that the changes aim to improve the district’s state accountability scores tied to attendance (the district referenced a 96% attendance target).
Mr. Kramer framed the change as aligning school expectations with workplace norms and noted some families and students may push back. Board members supported stronger expectations while acknowledging implementation and parent communication will be important. This item was presented as a first reading and no formal vote was taken; staff will return with final language and an implementation plan.
What happens next: staff will refine language, develop parent communications and return for a future vote.
